TalkingBoxing News
Duddy-Bonsante Headlines at the Garden
TUE, January 23 - IBA middleweight champion “Ireland’s” John Duddy defends his world title for the first time, as well as his WBC Continental Americas belt, March 16 against The Contender 1 star Anthony "The Bullet” Bonsante, headlining the “Erin Go Brawl” pay-per-view
event,
live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
“Erin Go Brawl,” presented by Irish Ropes Promotions, will be broadcast live in North America on cable and satellite pay-per-view starting at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT. The event is being produced and distributed for pay-per-view by Integrated Sports and will be available in more than 50-million homes in North America via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network in the USA, as well as Viewer’s Choice in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.
“It’s going to be a barnburner of an event,” Irish Ropes president Eddie McLouglin said. “It’s an Irish show, the night before St. Patrick’s Day, in Madison Square Garden. Duddy is more known and better respected after his great fight with ‘Yory Boy’ Campas. People all over the world know Bonsante from The Contender and he earned this shot against Duddy by beating (Matt) Vanda. The interest in this show is unbelievable and that’s why we decided to do a pay-per-view event. I’ve already been inundated with ticket requests. We have people coming from across the United States, Ireland, Canada and even 16 I know of all the way from Australia.”
Duddy (18-0, 15 KOs), rated No. 7 by the WBO and No. 9 by the WBA, captured the vacant IBA championship September 29, 2006 by 12-round decision in a brutal fight with former world champion Campas before a sellout crowd in The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The charismatic, handsome Duddy is a budding star.
Vanda was supposed to be Duddy’s opponent but Bonsante (29-8-3, 17 KOs) turned in a career-defining performance January 12 against his Minnesota archrival, winning a one-sided 10-round decision in Minneapolis for the Minnesota State and IBA Americas middleweight titles, as well as his March 16th title shot against Duddy.
Also fighters scheduled to fight on “Erin Go Brawl” card include 2004 Irish Olympian middleweight Andy Lee (6-0, 3 KOs), world-rated super featherweight Maureen “The Real Million Dollar Baby” Shea (8-0, 4 KOs), the unbeaten Clancy brothers – heavyweight James (9-0, 1 KO) and cruiserweight Mark (6-0-1, 1 KO) – from Clare, Ireland and now fighting out of Boston, and 2004 Irish National Senior amateur champion Henry Coyle in his pro debut. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, priced at $400.00, $300.00, $200.00, $150.00, $100.00, $75.00 and $50.00, may be purchased at the Garden Box Office, thegarden.com, or by calling TicketMaster at 212.307.7171. All tickets include a $4.50 facility fee and TicketMaster orders are subject to TicketMaster service charge. For more information about “Erin Go Brawl” call Irish Ropes Promotions at 212.835.1582 or going on line to www.irishropes.com.
Boston Press Conference Quotes
John Duddy: “New York City and Boston have been like second homes for me. I’ve been here (Boston) a few times to visit friends and it’s a good place for me to relax. I look forward to fighting at The Garden, but I’m not just the only one fighting, it’s the whole package with guys like the Clancys fighting, too. It’s going to be a big Irish night and I hope to carry the flag again. I’m looking forward to fighting Anthony Bonsante. I leave next week for training camp in Florida so Harry (Keitt, his head trainer) can beat me up some more.
“I can’t believe the reception I’ve received on the East Coast in New York and Boston. I never thought it would be like this. My Irish and Irish-American fans keep me going. I’ll be in even better shape, mentally and physically, for this fight, even better than I was for the (Yory Boy) Campas fight. Hopefully this is going to be a year of big things for us. “
Anthony Bonsante: (By Phone) “I’ve always dreamed of fighting at The Garden. I’m excited as hell. It’s a big opportunity for me. I’m getting better and better. I’ll be training my butt off. There are implications for a really big fight if and when I win (March 16). He can box and punch, but I’m coming to win. I’m taking nothing away from Duddy; he’s a great puncher. We’re going to devise and work hard on a plan for him. I realize it’s an uphill battle for me fighting in Madison Square Garden, the night before St. Patrick’s Day against a fighter like Duddy with all of the Irish there. But, in my heart, I have a good shot to win.”
James Clancy: “I’m honored to be fighting for Irish Ropes on March 16 again and being on John Duddy’s undercard.”
A Fight Fan's Dream - Vazquez Defends vs. Marquez
TUE, January 23 - Showtime continues to live up to its billing as America’s No. 1 Boxing Network as it delivers yet another compelling match-up on Saturday, March, 3, 2007. In one of the most highly anticipated fights in years, Israel Vazquez will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight title against International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez in the main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast).
The showdown between two of boxing’s most exceptionally talented and exciting warriors will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions in association with Sycuan Ringside Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. A venue for the bout is yet to be determined.
Both Vazquez and Marquez, who are fixtures on many experts’ pound-for-pound lists, hail from Mexico City and are legitimate, hard-punching, world champions who make for crowd-pleasing, exhilarating scraps. Since they burst onto the world scene, each capturing world titles, fans have been clamoring for this match-up. Now, fight fans around the world have the dream match-up they’ve been waiting for.
“The best bantamweight in the world against the best junior featherweight, both of whom have very pleasing offensive styles -- and have come off the canvas to win bouts,” says MaxBoxing.com. “It doesn't get any better than that.”
ESPN.com wrote: “We're going to get exactly what we've been asking for -- to see Marquez move up to junior featherweight for a career-defining fight against champion Israel Vazquez.”
Vazquez, 29, is 41-3 with 31 knockouts. A two-time world champion at 122 pounds, he will make the third defense of the WBC title he captured by scoring a third-round TKO over Oscar Larios Dec. 3, 2005, in Las Vegas. Overall, Vazquez has won nine consecutive bouts, including seven inside of the distance.
In one of 2006’s greatest fights, Vazquez overcame two knockdowns to retain the title in his last start with a devastating 10th-round TKO over Jhonny Gonzalez on Sept. 16, in Las Vegas.
Managed by Frank Espinoza, Vazquez is promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions and Golden Boy.
Marquez, 31, has been victorious in 15 straight bouts, including 12 by knockout. The tough, dangerous counter-puncher and brother of Juan Manuel Marquez will make his long-desired step up in weight after successfully defending his IBF 118-pound crown seven times.
Regarded as one of the world’s best fighters, Marquez also is the International Boxing Organization (IBO) bantamweight titleholder. He is coming off two scintillating TKOs over top contender Silence Mabuza on SHOWTIME.
Marquez, who stopped long-time titleholder Tim Austin to capture the IBF belt on Feb. 15, 2003, in Las Vegas, is managed and trained by Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain and promoted by Gary Shaw Productions.
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Bernstein will call the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast will be David Dinkins Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing.
For information on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and “ShoBox: The New Generation” telecasts, including complete fighter bios and records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at www.sho.com/boxing.
Diaz Wants to Lose 'Interim' Label
TUE, January 23 - The only thing Sycuan Ringside Promotions’ International Boxing Federation (IBF) interim lightweight champion Julio Diaz is willing to lose when he opposes defending IBF lightweight champion Jesus Chavez on Saturday, Feb. 3, is that nagging “interim” label.
“I’m in great shape, at the right weight and really excited,” Diaz said. “I’m ready to go.’’
Diaz (33-3, 24 KOs), of Indio, Calif., takes on Chavez (42-3, 29 KOs), of Austin, Texas, in the opening half of a world championship doubleheader on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Fla.
If triumphant, Diaz becomes a two-time IBF lightweight title-holder and Sycuan Ringside Promotions’ fourth current world champion.
“This will be a great fight,’’ said Diaz, who captured the IBF interim title in his most recent start with a lopsided 12-round decision over Ricky Quiles on May 18, 2006, in Hollywood, Fla. “Chavez is a great fighter, someone I respect very much. But he’s not at my level.
“I’m a legit lightweight. He’s a great junior lightweight moving up. I expect a great fight but I will dominate because he’s slower and smaller than me. Chavez’s style is perfect for me.’’
Diaz, who hails from a fighting family, turned pro at 19. The younger brother of two-time world-title challenger Antonio Diaz captured the IBF belt the first time with a 12-round majority decision over Javier Jauregui on May 13, 2005, in San Diego. Most felt he won convincingly. “I knew I had the fight,’’ said the switch-hitting Diaz after he outpointed the defending titlist by the scores of 118-110 twice and 114-114. “It was the happiest day of my life.’’
Diaz voluntarily relinquished the belt to take on World Boxing Council (WBC) 135-pound champ Jose Luis Castillo on March 5, 2005, in Las Vegas on SHOWTIME.
Diaz lost by 10th-round TKO, but said, “I learned so much, I almost felt like I came out of that fight a winner. Castillo had so much experience. I was never hurt, on the ropes or in trouble. I was in the fight and I took his power punches. He knocks everybody out, but not me. “I really feel like I grew up that night.’’
Since the setback, Diaz has gone 3-0. He won both his assignments after Castillo by spectacular one-punch, first-round knockout. Then, last time out, he outclassed Quiles.
“Confidence-wise, I feel so good right now,’’ Diaz said. “This is such a big fight for me. It’s time for me to do really well in a big fight.’’
Diaz knows how to bounce back from adversity. The “2000 Prospect of the Year’’ in USA Today was once regarded as one of boxing's top young contenders. Then, in October 2001, he dropped a disputed 12-round split decision to popular veteran Angel Manfredy.
“That was the first big fight I had and I truly believe I won it,’’ Diaz said. “Castillo was the second big fight. This one with Chavez is the third.’’
The five-foot-nine-inch Diaz will have a four-inch height advantage over the dangerous, comebacking Chavez.
“I’ve always been tall for my weight class,’’ said Diaz, who is at his best when he can utilize his speed, mobility and power. “I’ve fought plenty of smaller fighters who like to come in and throw a lot of punches. I know how to handle these guys.
“But on Feb. 3, I won’t be there to dance around. I’ll be there to win.”
Forum
